Dwight f



D. F: WELSH.

Improvement in Lightning Rods.

Patented Feb-20,1872.

INVENTGR.

DXVIGHT F. WELSH,

or NEVADA, OHIO.

IMPRQVEMENT lN LlGl-iTNlNG-RD$ Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,958, dated February 20, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

I, DWIGHT 1?.VELSH, of Nevada, in the county of Wyandot and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and Improved Lightning-rod, of which thei'ollowing is aspecilica tion:

This invention relates to the construction of a lightning-rod of sheet metal, bent in a corrugated form, and then uniting the edges so as to i'orm a corrugated or tluted column or rod, in which a greater amount of surface is gained for conducting the electric fluid. It also relates to the method of uniting the sections of the rod, whereby the same may be made continuous to an unlimited extent.

The t'ollowin g description fully sets forth the construction and objects of my invention.

In the drawing, Figure l is an elevation or side view, and Fig. 2 is an end view ot'therod. Fig 3 is an end view of a corrugated sheet. Fig. at represents the manner of slotting the ends of the sheets for the purpose of uniting the sections.

A in the several figures represents sheets of metal, (copper is preferable, but any suitable metal may be used,) whichare passed through a t'orming-machine, and bent in a corrugated form, as seenin Fig. 3, the ends of the sheets having been previously cut with slots, as seen in Fig. 4. The object of said slots will behereinafter shown. The sheets arethen turned so as to bring their side edges Z) I) together, and are then united with solder or any other suitable means, the end appearance of the said sheet being that of a star, as seen in Fig 2. By cutting the ends of the sheets into slots, as atoresaid, and folding the sheets so as to make the folds at the slots and between the slots alternately, the ends of the rod, when folded, will have a shoulder all around, as seen at 15, Fig. 1. To form a socket at each end of the In this manner the several sections are united to form a continuous rod. To secure them together, a wire rod, U, is passedthrough holes near where the sections are united, and is brought together and twisted; the ends of the wire are passed around on the opposite side and are twisted togetherseveral times, securing alltirmly. The sheets may also be cut with slots at either end so as to form, alternately, a socket on one end and a shoulder on the other. The sections might also be cast in molds, to form corrugated or fluted rods similar to the bent sheets, having sockets and shoulders alternately, it desired; but the method of forming the rods of sheet metal I consider the simplest and most economical method, my principal object being to produce a fluted rod having a large amount of surface in the smallest compass, for conducting electricity from buildings. 1 am aware that hollow l'luted lightning-rods of thin metal have been iminut'actured before the date of my invention; but the sections of the same are formed of three or more distinct pieces, the connecting of which, to form such section, involves much labor and expense. I prefer manufacturing the sections of my rod each of a single strip of metal, as described, as the rod is stronger and more cheaply made; but two strips could be used in the construction of each section with but slight increase in labor and cost.

WVhat I claim is 1. A lightning-rod each section of which is formed, respectively, from one or two sheets of metal, so bent or tinted that when the side edges of such sheet or sheets are brought together and connected a hollow section of rod of stellate form is produced, as described.

2. The strips of metal so slotted at their ends that when formed into sections of rod the slots produce upon each end of the section a tongue, or a socket, or a tongue and socket, respective ly, as described, for the purpose set forth.

DWlGLiT l \VELSH.

Witnesses:

J. N. GOODBREAD, E. F. ELLIOTT. 

